With so many options for laundry detergents out there, it's hard to know what's going to mess with your hormones, cause cancer, cause skin, eye & lung irritation or maybe just wash your clothes without trying to kill you. Let me help you learn to vet your detergents & arm you with knowledge about what to look out for & why it's worth being weary of what you wash your clothes in. After all, your skin is your largest organ & your clothes are sitting right against it for hours on end, allowing easy absorption of whatever you've chosen. If you have any variant of MTHFR, this is especially important because we're already at a disadvantage with our ability to detox toxins properly. Not sure if you have MTHFR or what to do once you've learned you have it? Check out our free e-book at RyannsHopeApothecary.com. We're just going to focus on the most commonly found toxins right now so this doesn't turn into a drinking from a fire hose session. I'll have some honorable mentions at the end as well.
Formaldehyde- Starting strong with a known carcinogen, an eye skin & respiratory system irritant & is toxic to the immune system. This one is pretty self explanatory since we just recapped how your skin is your largest organ & anything that potentially irritates it would be a good thing to steer clear of. Also, your immune system is pretty important & chemicals that mess with it would be detrimental to your overall health. It's used as an antibacterial agent & preservative, but you really don't need something we use to embalm people with to clean your laundry. Some studies have linked eczema to the use of formaldehyde.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)- This chemical is known to be toxic to marine life & can cause skin, eye & lung irritation. It's also suspected to be contaminated with carcinogenic impurities. It's typically used as a surfactant, emulsifying agent & foaming agent.
1,4-dioxane- This byproduct is a known carcinogen & neurotoxin. It's never listed on labels because it's not intentionally added. It's created in a chemical process by which ethylene oxide reacts with other chemicals to create a surfactant. It will always be present in trace amounts when ethoxylated surfactants are used. To easily identify ethoxylated surfactants & therefore dioxane, follow the general rule of "if it ends in "eth", it could be your death". So no steareth, ceteareth, laureth, it's ethoxylated.
Phthalates or fragrance- Anything that's super fragrant with a long lasting smell uses phthalates. Phthalates are endocrine disruptors which cause hormonal imbalances & fertility issues. They also put you at an increased risk for cancer. I know it's hard to part with Gain & your scent beads but the long term ramifications of hormone imbalances are more than just a little serious. For a child, that can have a significant impact on your growth & organ function. Wool balls & essential oils really do an amazing job in place of dryer sheets & scent beads & actually have several added benefits.
Dichlorobenzene or benzene- Here we have another known carcinogen, skin, eye & lung irritant, and it is toxic to non-reproductive organs & toxic to the environment. And the kicker is that is bioaccumulated, meaning that it builds up in your system because your body doesn't know what to do with it. This is especially problematic for those with MTHFR, like we discussed.
Ammonium sulfate- This is another chemical known to bioaccumulate. As a good rule of thumb, it is best to stay away from anything that is known to back up in your system. That should really go without saying. It's also toxic to the environment & causes non-reproductive organ toxicity, perhaps due to bioaccumulation.
Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEs)- Europe & Canada have been smart enough to ban this chemical but the US is holding strong. It causes endocrine disruption which impacts your hormones, fertility & overall health. It has a negative impact on fetal development & physical function. Again, just stay away from ethoxylates in general.
Bleach- Bleach obviously isn't great for our health, but it's commonly used to brighten clothes. It's a skin, eye & lung irritant that hides behind names such as "sodium hypochlorite" or "UV brighteners".
Dyes- These are not added for cleaning power. They are mostly added to make the detergents look pretty & they can wreak havoc on your body. Almost all of them are endocrine disruptors, carcinogens & they are usually the reason for your unexplained rashes or allergies.
This is a great list to start you on the path to a healthier lifestyle when it comes to your laundry detergent. Any removal of unnecessary toxins is a win in your body's book & takes such a burden off of your organs, hormones & immune system. Some honorable mentions would be benzyl acetate, BHT, ammonium quaternary sanitizers (quats/synthesized cationic surfactants), phosphates & ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). There is absolutely no benefit to the use of any of these products.
Some signs & symptoms you may have been exposed to laundry detergent toxins are as follows: loss of energy, rash, eczema or other skin issues, headaches, hormonal issues, respiratory problems, immune dysfunction, nervous system issues, vision loss, infertility, organ damage & cancer.
Please make a habit of doing your own research. For everything. Especially the things we put in & on our bodies. Major corporations are out there just trying to make a quick buck & they do not always have your best interests at heart. That's why it is our responsibility to know what we are getting ourselves into. Always. And remember, this is just one area of your life that may be littered with toxins. Commit to replacing each item in your house with something nontoxic each time a product runs out & before you know it, over time, you will be feeling better & living a low toxin lifestyle. We can only do so much to avoid chemicals these days, every little bit helps.
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